The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 42, Milford, Kosciusko County, 2 December 1987 — Page 1

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VOLUME 26

\ -V f JBRBWW|~’ _ill ■ | P/V k *■ Mk J ff™ f o 1 <H ■ w Hr Hh& A ’ 4l\ p * EJWWJL t Hr W ~H -' >, ' i BBb ‘ / z jfll ‘Jr ’ HMlk SANTA COMES TO SYRACUSE — With sirens sounding and red lights flashing, a Syracuse fire engine, with a police escort, delivered Santa to the Pickwick Theatre in Syracuse at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28. A large group of children and parents waited outside the theater and cheered Santa as he arrived to greet them and welcome them to the movie, ‘‘Care Bear II,” sponsored by Lakeland Community Daycare, Syracuse, in cooperation with many area merchants. Santa had been at Pilcher Shoes in Wawasee Village from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. where children joined him in his sleigh to tell him what they most wanted for Christmas.

Commissioners discuss courthouse dome repair, county appointments

(By CARLA GAFF Staff Writer “I don’t think there’s any choice on these things,” explained county auditor J.D. Geiger concerning needed repair work to the courthouse dome. “I think these things would be considered emergency repairs and we wouldn’t run into any budget problems with them.” Dome Roof In Bad Shape Charles Vanderpool with Atlas Industries confronted the commissioners during their Tuesday morning, Dec. 1, meeting, noting that, “The small roof that tops out the dome is in real bad shape.” He continued by estimating that the project could cost between $lO-20 thousand dollars because repairs and replacement of sheet metal are needed, as well as a number of ornamental type of changes. “The torch where the flag had at one time been flying, is also loose,” he said. “I think we’d better go ahead with it,” stated commissioner Maurice Beer. Atlas Industries is currently paid S3O an hour for sheet metal repair work to the courthouse, and commissioners agreed to extend the company's services to include the needed work on the dome at the same price. However, commissioner Charles Lynch conveyed to Vanderpool, “If you see it’s going to be awfully expensive, be sure to let us know ahead of time.” Also during the meeting commissioners made the following county board appointments: Alcoholic Beverage Commission — Oscar Werner Kosciusko County Health board — Roger Thornton and Wyman Wilson -X Kosciusko Drainage Board — Doris Harrold Kosciusko County Health Officer — David Haines Civil Defense — Ellsworth Everest Kosciusko County Attorney — Rex Reed

Veterinary Service Officer — Tug Wagoner Arrowhead R.C. & D. Council — Don Frantz Area Planning Director — Dan Richards Todd On Sewer Project Turkey Creek (sewer project) — Joe Todd Highway Department — Ken Traylor, Bernard Kuhn, Robert

County shelter to apply for emergency grant

In the dead of the night a young child cries as he clings close to his mother, both are frightened as they climb into a car and leave their home in search of refuge from the storm. They’re victims of physical abuse, and luckily for them, Kosciusko /County has an emergency shelter to help them at anytime of the day or night. The Beaman Home — Kosciusko County Shelter for Abuse Victims, opened in September of 1985 and has continually grown in services and staff members since that time. The shelter will be a United Way Agency in 1988 and officials announced during this week’s commissioners' meeting that they will be seeking an Emergency Shelter Grant in the near future. The grant will meet up to 50 percent of the shelters’ needs for emergency services. In this, the grant for Kosciusko County will be applied toward food supplies, household/personal supplies, utilities, rent, building insurance, equipment repair and maintenance, building repair and maintenance, postage and a telephone pager. It’s estimated that the total cost of these necessities will be $13,000 and the county could receive $6,500 of this from the grant. “The reason we’re here is because we received information concerning an emergency grant,” shelter board member Judy Prichard explained to the

Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (E5t.1907)

Martin and Ron Himes Maintenance Department — Richard Denney, Walter Stafford and Viola Dickerson. Additionally, Mike Stephens with Valley Cablevision, Inc. was given non-exclusive rights to furnish cable TV to persons in the county. The company currently has exclusive rights to the Silver Lake area.

county commissioners. “And the grant application must go through a local unit of the general government.” She went on to say that shelter officials will do the actual writing for the grant and will be responsible for the distribution of the funds if and when they’re received. The Beaman Home is a crisis intervention center helping physically abused victims. The goal of the shelter is to serve all members of the family through direct and referral services in which they may prevent or remedy abuse, neglect or exploitation of adults. It's open 24 hours every day and is available to anyone in the county or surrounding areas who is being abused regardless of sex or age. Statistics show that 26 percent of all abused victims return to their original situation, while 74 percent choose to live inHistorical Society mugs are available The 1987 Historical Society mugs will be available at the Jail Museum, Indiana and Main Streets in Warsaw, at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. These limited edition mugs, drawn by Philip Holliday of North Webster, feature the 1870 jail. This is second in the series of Kosciusko County historical buildings. Only 300 numbered mugs are available. There will be no reservations or orders taken.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2,1987

Case closed — Hootman to be sentenced Dec. 31 for 1984 murder of Barbara Hui lev

By CARLA GAFF Staff Writer

At 9a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31, Robert Hootman of Syracuse will be sentenced for the Friday, Sept. 21, 1984, murder of Barbara Hulley, also of Syracuse. The murder has been called a “senseless” one by area police officers for over three years because it was an attempted burglary that didn’t pan out. Hootman received nothing of any value from the burglary and could have easily fled from the scene after Mrs. Hulley fainted. “It was just a senseless brutal murder,” explained Kosciusko County Detective Thomas Kitch, “he could have gotten out of the

Saturday hours for December The part office hi Milford will be open till 1 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 5, 12, and 19, for the Chrtstmas maH rush. People on rural routes are reminded that mail carriers do not carry much money, soil to purchase auiauat of money.

“We’re not trying to shot gun the county,” Stephens said, “but just want to take in the areas around Silver Lake.” Commissioners also agreed to extend insurance benefits for six months to a county officer who may not be able to return to work, and decided to have county insurance agent Jerry Clevenger check insurance cost benefits

dependently. The future of those represented by the 26 percent is not bleak, as studies show that shelters not only relieve the victims by taking them out of the battering situation, but also help motivate the assailants to change their behavior. Abuse victims may also participate in a newly formed support group. The group is

3 accidents reported

Three accidents were reported to Syracuse Police between last Wednesday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 29, with one of the incidents resulting in injuries to a pedestrian. Willard Frazier, 63, 718 Baltimore St., Syracuse, was treated and released at Goshen Hospital for chest pains after being hit by a pickup truck at 8:37 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. Frazier was walking along the SR 13E Access Road near East Chicago Street when he was struck by the truck, driven by Craig A. Cobbum, 19. Cobbum, who was making a left turn from East Chicago Street when the incident occurred, told police he was unable ‘o see Frazier in time to avoid the incident. Damage to the truck, a 1987 Chevrolet, was set at S2OO. An off-road accident involving one vehicle resulted in considerable damage to surrounding property when Mitch Dee Jones, 17, Syracuse, failed to negotiate a left curve on Ideal Beach Road, and left the roadway 64 feet east

apartment after she surprised him and not have been in that much trouble. ” Hootman is 20 years old and a graduate of Wawasee High School. He resided at 231 N. Street in Syracuse less than a year before his attack on Mrs. Hulley. He was only 17 years old at the time. “In the plea-bargaining, the prosecution agreed to drop the felony murder charge (death sentence) in exchange for Hootman’s confession of murder,” said Kitch, “and with him being so young he probably wouldn’t have gotten the death sentence anyway.” Prosecutor Mike Miner noted that Hootman could be sentenced from 30-60 years for the murder and that Judge Richard Sand will be presiding over the actual arraignment. Shortly after the original confession on May 6, 1987, Miner stated, local officials have worked continuously on the case, and that their “dogged determination is what brought it all out now.” Barbara Lee Hulley had been found dead by her son, John, after he climbed though a window in her 225 West North St. apartment. It was later determined that she had been brutally stabbed around 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, though the body was not found until Sunday morning. A year after the murder, Mrs. Pulley’s daughter, Marjorie 'Shopoff stated, “There could be, and probably is, a murder right here in Syracuse walking around

with additional companies. The Kosciusko County Commissioners will be meeting again on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 9 a.m. in the old courtroom of the courthouse. They will be hearing rezoning matters at that time, and are expected to rule on a Right-Of-Way cuts permit as well as a drainage regulating ordinance.

j available to all abuse or formerly s abused victims, and meets on t Friday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. in the First United Methodist » Church of Warsaw. > Persons need not have been ; residents at the shelter in order to attend the group, and babysitting is available. Anyone wanting ad- - ditional information may call 5 267-7701.

of Waco Drive. The Jones vehicle collided with a tree and tore out approximately 20 feet of fence before coming to rest at 1 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 29. The tree and fence, owned by Carol Popp of Fort Wayne, suffered $1,200 in damage while the Jones vehicle, a 1979 Chevrolet Camaro, suffered SI,OOO in damages. No one was injured in the incident. Driver inattention contributed to a two-car collision at 12:08 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, when the 1977 Ford LTD Wilma G. Meier, 56, Syracuse, wa« driving collided with a 1986 Chevrolet Brougham, driven by Milton H. Shuder, 73, Syracuse? Meier was traveling north on Harrison Street when she attempted a left turn onto East Main Street and collided with the Shuder automobile, which was traveling west. Up to S2OO damage was caused to the Meier automobile, while Shuder’s vehicle suffered up to SI,OOO in damages. No injuries were reported.

free as a bird.” And, although Hootman was free for a number of years, he has spent most of 1987 behind bars in the Kosciusko County Jail. He had’ been incarcerated approximately four months when he originally confessed. He was serving a misdemeanor conversion charge at that time and after officers were notified by his probation officer, Mark Rodriguiz, police began questioning Hootman about the murder. “After questioning him we knew we had to either eliminate him or include him as a suspect,” said Kitch during last week’s hearing, “but because of the conflicting information we didn’t know where to put him . ” The department then asked Hootman if he would consent to a polygraph test and he agreed to it, and later to a voice stress test. He confessed a few minutes after the voice stress test. Approximately 500 persons were talked to by police officers 'Aquadene' should help rust problem The Milford Utilities Department will be adding the chemical “aquadene” into the town’s water lines to help alleviate rust problems beginning Friday, Dec. 4. The chemical will be used in 1.15 gallon quantities each day for two and one-half weeks. Town residents are urged to check their water before washing clothes, with red coloring signaling a rust content. “It will be like that for the next few weeks then it should clear up,” noted utility superintendent Dallas Winchester. However, the red coloring will not be a constant problem, Winchester assured. “We just want residents to be aware of it. If you have a red color then you shouldn’t wash you’re clothes until it disappears,” he stated. Started as a preliminary stage to a distribution system, the aquadene is commonly used and will stay suspended in the town’s pipes, eliminating any residual problems. Water hydrants will also be flushed throughout town next Wednesday, Dec. 9.

MP —»I i ■!"—», I ISrOiE « 4 ' ” FIL J NEW BOARD INTRODUCED UKr J — The two new members of the . Milford Town Board were introduced to area residents Sunday afternoon, Nov. 29, at the Milford United Methodist Church. The reception, hosted by Faye | ''X 4 Hollar and Ruth Hoppus. allowed J residents to learn the duo's posi- I >Ol tions on certain matters and | UttM helped them familiarize I | themselves with other Milford I. residents. I Members of the Robert Phillips i. family are shown in the photo »' above and include, from left: jB Blanche Hutton, ’hHlips from Muncie; Mandy Phillips, his . Wt'fll daughter: Shirley Phillips his ■ mother from Daieville; Nanette R / Phillips, and Rob Phillips. “ holding his three year and ‘ ?■' seven-year-old sons Will and M Bobby. In the photo at right are John Pamela. 1 /n 11l

during the two years and eight s mdqths the murder was being ins vestlgated. Additionally, a t satellite office was set up in s Syracuse so that the investigation - could continue at close range. ; Contacts were made to - neighbors, the neighborhood cani vassed, FBI contacted, state - police brought in, a comparison -of similar murders was made as , well as a psychological profile

; Home, store decorating contest is discussed

] I By DEB PATTERSON t I Staff Writer J A possibility of a home decorating and a store window decorating contest in the ’ future will be looked into by the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The idea discussed during this morning’s (Wednesday) board of directors meeting. It [ is uncertain if the contest*! ; would begin in 1988 or later, t The idea came from another community who has this type of contest yearly with the board of ] realtors judging the homes and f retail division of the chamber judging the store windows. Also a , listing of those persons par- > ticipating would be made. In other business, Sally Cotton, » vice president, announced the t chamber has been in receipt of f job resumes and job opportunities. Bill Beemer suggested copies be made of the resumes and sent to chamber members ; with, a follow up letter to those f sent the resumes. Ini j quizes from businesses, outside s Turkey Creek Township, on job opportunities have also been » received. > Quotes will be obtained on the 1 cost of new letterheads for thej chamber to include the logo 1 drawn by Col. Joseph Gray. The board voted to use the colors of > red, white and blue in the logo. A t decision is expected at the January meeting.

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NUMBER 42

determined in order to help aid in the investigation. After over three years of investigating a ruthless murder in a small town Kitch concluded, “I’m certain it’s been three very long years for the family. And as a police officer, I hope that the family is satisfied that we’ve done everything possible to bring it to a close. It’s now a closed case.”

In committee reports Beemer announced the chamber’s beautification project will be coordinated with the park board’s activities and he will contact the board for input. Beemer also announced he has contacted the state Hoosier Celebration ’BB headquarters in Indianapolis concerning a band specifically for the celebration. Information will be sent to Beemer who is chairman of the local celebration. Thoughts are to have the band perform at (Lakeside Park for several nights and a possible ice cream social. Donna Conder, president of the retail merchants division, reported Santa Claus will be at the Lakeland Youth Center « December 12 and IP far photographs at a cost of $5 per picture. She also stated the retail merchant’s Bonus Bucks for Christmas was a success. Several names were suggested as possible candidates in the board’s search for an executive director. Further discussion will be held at the January 6 board meeting. The first chamber newsletter was well received. The next newsletter is expected to be out in January. Input for this newsletter is being sought by the committee. Committee members are Jeanne Gardiner, Dick McDaniel and Deb Patterson. The next board of directors meeting will be January 6 at 7:45 a.m. in the State Bank of Syracuse.